HSK · Level 20
135 words
Chinese word
外头
Pronunciation
Pinyinwài tou
Meaning
- nounoutside
Example
我就在外头等你。wǒ jiù zài wài tou děng nǐ
I'm waiting for you outside.
More examples
门关上了，我被锁在外头。mén guān shàng le wǒ bèi suǒ zài wài tou
The door closed, and I was locked outside.
Core concept
A location beyond an indoor boundary, whether just outside a building or in the open air.
Common phrases
在外头等你zài wài tou děng nǐ
wait for you outside
被锁在外头bèi suǒ zài wài tou
be locked outside
到外头透透气dào wài tou tòu tòu qì
go outside for some fresh air
Similar words
外面wài miàn: The outside surface or area of a thing or building.
外边wài biān: The area or surroundings outside a home or building.
室外shì wài: An outdoor place or space that is not inside a building.
户外hù wài: An open-air outdoor place or space away from indoor areas.
Definition in Chinese
口语名词，表示人在建筑、房间等之外的位置或户外，常与在、出、到等动词搭配，语感比“外面”更口语化。kóu yǔ míng cí biǎo shì rén zài jiàn zhù fáng jiān děng zhī wài de wèi zhì huò hù wài cháng yǔ zài chū dào děng dòng cí dā pèi yú gǎn bǐ wài miàn gèng kóu yǔ huà
Word origin
外 (wài, "outside") + 头 (tou, "head") forms a colloquial location noun, with 头 serving as a suffix that turns outside into an area or side.
Usage tips
- Its natural setting is a quick spoken exchange about where someone is waiting or meeting, making it useful for sharing a location without a long sentence.